Norway, Finland, Latvia, Estonia and definitely Canada. All of these northern countries have choirs with an open, spacious, cool sound, and a deep sense of the mysterious. Their choirs have beautiful intonation, gorgeous diction and a cadre of composers to create some of the most beautiful repertoire in the choral tradition.
There is a wonderful quality in the music that comes from cultures that live with the cold and dark for so many months of the year; a dark that is punctuated by the bright and intense light of a brief, fragile summer.
Why do these countries all have such strong choral traditions? Perhaps it’s because of the strong sense of community that comes from sharing the struggle against the cold and dark, and that gathering together to sing brings warmth, light and hope.
In this edition of Choral Concert, host Peter Togni will delve into the northern landscape and bring you the Helsinki University Chorus, the Elora Festival Singers, the Quintessential Vocal Ensemble, the Swedish Chamber Choir, and the Chorovaya Akademia.
Choral Concert presents its cool, spacious, mysterious northern edition for a hot summer Sunday. Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., (9:30 - 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2.
Why do you think northern countries have such excellent choirs? Let us know in the comments below.
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